Area residents may respond to a proposed $130 million expansion project on Interstate 80 until June 3.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has proposed rebuilding and expanding I-80 from four to six lanes from Pleasant Dale in Seward County east to Northwest 56th Street in Lancaster County.
“The purpose of the proposed project is to increase traffic capacity while supporting and maintaining safe and efficient vehicular travel within the project corridor,” according to a legal notice from NDOT. “The need for this project is based on the current condition of the pavement and bridges as well as current and projected traffic volumes.”
Average daily traffic counts in that area are expected to increase from 40,020 in 2024 to 52,420 by 2044.
Work is planned on 7.6 miles of road from mile marker 387 to 395. The project includes two new lanes and a paved median to create a total of six lanes of travel, three in each direction, separated by a concrete barrier.
“The project would repair or replace mainline and overhead bridges within the project area, construct temporary crossovers, extend, modify or construct new culverts, remove and replace guardrail, and reconstruct the Nebraska Highway 103/NW 154th Street interchange and modernize the ramp lengths to accommodate the improvement,” the notice said.
NDOT said it would not have to acquire additional property for the project, but it will affect wetlands in the Twin Lakes State Wildlife Management Area.
Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2024 and will take about two and a half years. Detours and temporary route closures at overpasses are expected, but traffic on I-80 will not be rerouted.
Written comments or requests for information about the project, number 12591, may be submitted to Lucas Nelsen, public involvement specialist at NDOT, P.O. Box 94759, Lincoln, NE 68509-4759 or emailed to lucas.nelsen@nebraska.gov. Nelsen may be reached by phone at (402) 479-3890.
Comments will be accepted through June 3. Additional information is available at ndot.info/12591.
